Make Family Planning a Developmental Priority in Nigeria – CSOs to FG

By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan.
Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON), Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) and other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) over the weekend asked the Federal Government to make family planning a developmental
priority in Nigeria.
The CSOs made the call in a communique issued in Ibadan, at the end of a ‘One day validation meeting for Trend Analysis of 2006-2016 Health Sector Budget of Oyo State.
According to the civil societies, there is the urgent need for governments at all levels in the country to look for alternative ways of funding the health sector.
They stressed that this became necessary in view of the fact that most states in Nigeria presently do not have enough budget allocation for health programmes especially reproductive health issues such as primary health care, child welfare, women and family planning in their domains.
“The coalition unanimously agreed that government should look into an alternative means of funding the health sector in the state. Stakeholders, i.e government functionaries and philanthropist should be ready to assist the coalition to achieve health reform in Oyo State” they said.
The civil society coalition however lauded Oyo State government and the State House of Assembly on the passage of NHIS bill to law, saying, it will serve as a way of improving the health sector in the State.
“The coalition agreed that Primary Health Care under one roof Board (PHCUOR) should be passed into law and not an agency in accordance to the health act in Nigeria constitution. The coalition recommends media engagement in sensitizing the public on the benefits of Health Insurance Scheme”.